Intermittent Fasting 16:8 Meal Plan
The 16:8 protocol involves eating all meals within an 8-hour window (e.g., 12pm–8pm) and fasting for 16 hours. This plan structures three satisfying meals within that window.
1800
kcal/day
30%
Protein
40%
Carbs
30%
Fat
✅ Key Benefits
- •Reduces total calorie intake naturally
- •May improve insulin sensitivity
- •Simplified eating schedule
- •Associated with improved metabolic markers
Day 1
1410 kcalBreakfastGreek Yogurt Parfait
340 kcal · 20g P · 5 min
Greek Yogurt Parfait
340 kcal · 20g P · 5 min
Full-fat Greek yogurt layered with banana, oats, and a sprinkle of chia seeds.
Ingredients:
- •200g plain Greek yogurt
- •1 banana
- •30g rolled oats
- •1 tbsp chia seeds
Use 0% fat Greek yogurt to reduce calories by ~40.
LunchChicken & Brown Rice Bowl
520 kcal · 45g P · 25 min
Chicken & Brown Rice Bowl
520 kcal · 45g P · 25 min
Grilled chicken breast over brown rice with roasted broccoli and a tahini drizzle.
Ingredients:
- •180g chicken breast
- •150g cooked brown rice
- •150g broccoli
- •1 tbsp tahini
- •lemon juice
- •garlic
Batch-cook chicken and rice on Sunday to prep lunches for the week.
DinnerBaked Salmon with Vegetables & Rice
550 kcal · 42g P · 25 min
Baked Salmon with Vegetables & Rice
550 kcal · 42g P · 25 min
Lemon-herb baked salmon fillet with steamed green beans and brown rice.
Ingredients:
- •180g salmon fillet
- •150g cooked brown rice
- •100g green beans
- •1 lemon
- •1 tsp olive oil
- •dill or parsley
Day 2
1360 kcalBreakfastAvocado & Poached Egg Toast
450 kcal · 22g P · 12 min
Avocado & Poached Egg Toast
450 kcal · 22g P · 12 min
Mashed avocado on 2 slices wholegrain toast topped with 2 poached eggs and chilli flakes.
Ingredients:
- •1/2 avocado
- •2 slices wholegrain bread
- •2 large eggs
- •chilli flakes
- •lemon juice
- •salt
Add smoked salmon for extra protein if not avoiding fish.
LunchQuinoa & Roasted Vegetable Bowl
480 kcal · 16g P · 35 min
Quinoa & Roasted Vegetable Bowl
480 kcal · 16g P · 35 min
Fluffy quinoa with oven-roasted courgette, sweet potato, and red pepper, dressed with tahini.
Ingredients:
- •150g cooked quinoa
- •100g sweet potato
- •80g courgette
- •80g red pepper
- •1 tbsp tahini
- •1 tsp olive oil
DinnerHerb-Grilled Chicken with Roasted Vegetables
430 kcal · 44g P · 35 min
Herb-Grilled Chicken with Roasted Vegetables
430 kcal · 44g P · 35 min
Lemon-herb marinated chicken breast with oven-roasted courgette, peppers, and cauliflower.
Ingredients:
- •200g chicken breast
- •100g courgette
- •100g mixed peppers
- •100g cauliflower
- •1 tbsp olive oil
- •rosemary
- •lemon
Day 3
1380 kcalBreakfastOatmeal with Berries & Walnuts
380 kcal · 11g P · 8 min
Oatmeal with Berries & Walnuts
380 kcal · 11g P · 8 min
Rolled oats cooked with water, topped with mixed berries, a handful of walnuts, and a drizzle of honey.
Ingredients:
- •80g rolled oats
- •150g mixed berries
- •20g walnuts
- •1 tsp honey
- •water
Prepare overnight oats the night before to save time.
LunchTuna & Salad Wholegrain Wrap
420 kcal · 35g P · 7 min
Tuna & Salad Wholegrain Wrap
420 kcal · 35g P · 7 min
Tinned tuna in spring water mixed with cucumber, sweetcorn, and light mayonnaise, wrapped in a wholegrain tortilla.
Ingredients:
- •1 can tuna in spring water (145g)
- •1 large wholegrain wrap
- •1/4 cucumber
- •30g sweetcorn
- •1 tbsp light mayonnaise
- •mixed leaves
DinnerLean Beef Bolognaise with Wholegrain Pasta
580 kcal · 46g P · 40 min
Lean Beef Bolognaise with Wholegrain Pasta
580 kcal · 46g P · 40 min
Slow-cooked lean beef mince bolognaise with wholegrain spaghetti and a sprinkle of parmesan.
Ingredients:
- •150g lean beef mince (5% fat)
- •80g wholegrain spaghetti
- •200ml tomato passata
- •1 onion
- •2 cloves garlic
- •1 carrot
- •10g parmesan
Day 4
1320 kcalBreakfastGreek Yogurt Parfait
340 kcal · 20g P · 5 min
Greek Yogurt Parfait
340 kcal · 20g P · 5 min
Full-fat Greek yogurt layered with banana, oats, and a sprinkle of chia seeds.
Ingredients:
- •200g plain Greek yogurt
- •1 banana
- •30g rolled oats
- •1 tbsp chia seeds
Use 0% fat Greek yogurt to reduce calories by ~40.
LunchMediterranean Chickpea Salad
440 kcal · 18g P · 10 min
Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
440 kcal · 18g P · 10 min
Chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, kalamata olives, and feta with lemon-olive oil dressing.
Ingredients:
- •240g canned chickpeas
- •100g cherry tomatoes
- •1/2 cucumber
- •1/4 red onion
- •30g feta cheese
- •15 kalamata olives
- •2 tbsp olive oil
- •lemon
DinnerSalmon with Sweet Potato & Broccoli
540 kcal · 40g P · 30 min
Salmon with Sweet Potato & Broccoli
540 kcal · 40g P · 30 min
Pan-seared salmon fillet with oven-roasted sweet potato and steamed broccoli.
Ingredients:
- •180g salmon fillet
- •200g sweet potato
- •150g broccoli
- •1 tsp olive oil
- •lemon
- •garlic
Day 5
1390 kcalBreakfastScrambled Eggs on Wholegrain Toast
390 kcal · 28g P · 10 min
Scrambled Eggs on Wholegrain Toast
390 kcal · 28g P · 10 min
3 eggs scrambled with spinach, served on 2 slices wholegrain toast with sliced tomato.
Ingredients:
- •3 large eggs
- •2 slices wholegrain bread
- •50g spinach
- •1 medium tomato
- •1 tsp olive oil
Add a pinch of turmeric to eggs for anti-inflammatory benefit.
LunchChicken & Brown Rice Bowl
520 kcal · 45g P · 25 min
Chicken & Brown Rice Bowl
520 kcal · 45g P · 25 min
Grilled chicken breast over brown rice with roasted broccoli and a tahini drizzle.
Ingredients:
- •180g chicken breast
- •150g cooked brown rice
- •150g broccoli
- •1 tbsp tahini
- •lemon juice
- •garlic
Batch-cook chicken and rice on Sunday to prep lunches for the week.
DinnerGarlic Prawns with Quinoa & Greens
480 kcal · 38g P · 20 min
Garlic Prawns with Quinoa & Greens
480 kcal · 38g P · 20 min
Juicy garlic-butter prawns on a bed of quinoa with wilted spinach and lemon.
Ingredients:
- •200g raw king prawns
- •150g cooked quinoa
- •100g spinach
- •3 cloves garlic
- •1 tbsp olive oil
- •lemon
Day 6
1360 kcalBreakfastOatmeal with Berries & Walnuts
380 kcal · 11g P · 8 min
Oatmeal with Berries & Walnuts
380 kcal · 11g P · 8 min
Rolled oats cooked with water, topped with mixed berries, a handful of walnuts, and a drizzle of honey.
Ingredients:
- •80g rolled oats
- •150g mixed berries
- •20g walnuts
- •1 tsp honey
- •water
Prepare overnight oats the night before to save time.
LunchGrilled Chicken Caesar Salad
430 kcal · 42g P · 20 min
Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad
430 kcal · 42g P · 20 min
Romaine lettuce, grilled chicken, parmesan shavings, and wholegrain croutons with light Caesar dressing.
Ingredients:
- •160g chicken breast
- •100g romaine lettuce
- •20g parmesan
- •30g wholegrain croutons
- •2 tbsp light Caesar dressing
DinnerBaked Salmon with Vegetables & Rice
550 kcal · 42g P · 25 min
Baked Salmon with Vegetables & Rice
550 kcal · 42g P · 25 min
Lemon-herb baked salmon fillet with steamed green beans and brown rice.
Ingredients:
- •180g salmon fillet
- •150g cooked brown rice
- •100g green beans
- •1 lemon
- •1 tsp olive oil
- •dill or parsley
Day 7
1260 kcalBreakfastAvocado & Poached Egg Toast
450 kcal · 22g P · 12 min
Avocado & Poached Egg Toast
450 kcal · 22g P · 12 min
Mashed avocado on 2 slices wholegrain toast topped with 2 poached eggs and chilli flakes.
Ingredients:
- •1/2 avocado
- •2 slices wholegrain bread
- •2 large eggs
- •chilli flakes
- •lemon juice
- •salt
Add smoked salmon for extra protein if not avoiding fish.
LunchRed Lentil Soup
380 kcal · 20g P · 30 min
Red Lentil Soup
380 kcal · 20g P · 30 min
Hearty red lentil soup with cumin, coriander, carrots, and a squeeze of lemon.
Ingredients:
- •150g red lentils
- •2 carrots
- •1 onion
- •2 cloves garlic
- •1 tsp cumin
- •1 tsp coriander
- •vegetable stock
- •lemon
DinnerHerb-Grilled Chicken with Roasted Vegetables
430 kcal · 44g P · 35 min
Herb-Grilled Chicken with Roasted Vegetables
430 kcal · 44g P · 35 min
Lemon-herb marinated chicken breast with oven-roasted courgette, peppers, and cauliflower.
Ingredients:
- •200g chicken breast
- •100g courgette
- •100g mixed peppers
- •100g cauliflower
- •1 tbsp olive oil
- •rosemary
- •lemon
Who Is This Plan For?
Adults comfortable skipping breakfast who want the metabolic benefits of fasting. Not suitable for those with a history of disordered eating or type 1 diabetes.
🔄 Substitution Tips
- →Break the fast with a protein-rich first meal to control hunger.
- →Black coffee and water are fine during the fasting window.
- →Space meals 2–3 hours apart within the eating window.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I exercise while fasting?
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- 1. Longo VD, Mattson MP. (2014). Fasting: molecular mechanisms and clinical applications. Cell Metab, 19(2), 181–192.